Ralph made this bread so often over the years, and he ate it toasted for breakfast. The original recipe, like most soda breads, calls for raisins or currants. Ralph didn't care for raisins, so he substituted walnuts in their place, with some grated orange peel. In my opinion, this is a real improvement.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups unsifted unbleached flour
- 4 T sugar
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3 T. butter
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (or 1 cup raisins or currants)
- some grated fresh orange peel (about 1/2 of 1 orange)
- 1 cup buttermilk
Heat oven to 375 F. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt together into a large bowl. Stir in walnuts.
Cut in the butter and add buttermilk and orange peel.
Mix dough very lightly, do not knead, just gently form into a traditionally shaped round loaf (flour your hands to do this) Place the dough on a greased baking sheet. (not too high in the center). Don't overwork the dough. Cut a cross on top of the loaf with a sharp knife.
You may brush the top with melted butter to glaze and crisp it during the baking process. Bake at 375 F. for 45 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean when tested.
Cool the bread at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool completely before slicing.